Survey Researchers Salary
The median pay for a survey researchers in Texas is $47,330/year ($22.76/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $51,732 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 41.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $47K actually covers in Texas, month by month
About survey researchers
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for survey researchers in Texas runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $69K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 42.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for survey researchers.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level survey researchers (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Survey Researchers salary by metro in Texas
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $49K | +3% | 100 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $38K | -21% | 260 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a survey researcher afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 42.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for survey researchers in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new survey researchers typically earn — is $26K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,912/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 74% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is survey researcher a high-paying job in Texas?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $47K here vs. $69K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for survey researchers?
Texas pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do survey researchers make in Texas?
The median is $47,330 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,040, and experienced survey researchers can clear $82,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,339/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 42.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a survey researchers salary go in Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median survey researchers salary is worth about $51,732 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do survey researchers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.